Service helps find missing people

Law enforcement agencies prize quick response offered by A Child is Missing

Law enforcement agencies prize quick response offered by A Child is Missing

June 25, 2008|By Emily Arthur-Richardt, earthur@aberdeennews.com

If a child or an elderly person were to go missing in Aberdeen, the police department has a program to help. A Child is Missing, which uses an automated system to place phone calls to everyone around the area where the child, an elderly person or a mentally challenged or disabled individual went missing, is available to the Aberdeen Police Department and other agencies throughout the United States free of charge. "It does not cost a dime to use this service," said Joe Harris, a trainer for A Child is Missing. "It will never cost a dime to use our service." A Child is Missing is a nonprofit organization run from Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Harris was in Aberdeen on Tuesday to share information about the program with local law enforcement agencies and people who work with the elderly. About 25 people, including officials from the Aberdeen Police Department, the Brown County Sheriff's Office, the South Dakota Highway Patrol and the Spink County Sheriff's Office, attended the training session. Since 1997, A Child is Missing has received more than 10,000 calls for assistance from law enforcement. In South Dakota, 12 agencies - including the Aberdeen Police Department, the Brown County Sheriff's Office and the Day County Sheriff's Office - are active participants. A Child is Missing program has been used eight times in the state. Used in Aberdeen: The program has been used at least twice in the last two years in Aberdeen. In March 2006, a 10-year-old girl went missing. She was found three hours later. And in May of that same year, A Child Is Missing was used to find the parents of a young boy who was found wandering around town. The parents were found 45 minutes after the alert went out. "Probably the main benefit is the speed at which we're able to reach out to people in the community," Capt. Dave McNeil of the Aberdeen Police Department said. "Whether it's locating somebody or making people aware that we're trying to locate someone in the neighborhood, it's very beneficial." Programs not linked: While A Child is Missing sends out alerts much like Amber Alert, Harris said the programs shouldn't be confused. Amber Alert deals with stranger abductions. An alert can be sent out from A Child is Missing if the following people are missing: a child up to 18 years old, a college student on a campus regardless of age, the mentally or physically disabled and the elderly, who many times go missing because of conditions like Alzheimer's or dementia. A Child is Missing can also be activated to find out the identity of people who can't be identified and to locate parents or caretakers of unidentified people regardless of age. How it works: Once a law enforcement agency notifies the Child is Missing office, which is staffed 24 hours a day, that an individual cannot be located, the program sends out an automated telephone message to every listed business and residential phone number in that area. Cell phone numbers and unlisted numbers can also be registered with the company (see the pullout box with this story to find out how). The message includes a description of the person, a location where they were last seen and a number to call if the recipient has any information. A Child is Missing can send out 1,000 calls in 60 seconds. "The beauty of our program is that we can be up and running in 15 minutes," Harris said. McNeil said a big benefit is also the cost. "For smaller agencies, it's beneficial that it's a service provided for free," he said. "Budgets are tight. When you have a service you don't have to pay for, it makes a difference." Reporter Emily Arthur-Richardt; (605) 622-2314 or 1-800-925-4100 ext. 314.